CIF PLAYOFFS: Mira Costa badminton program is on the rise
by Mark McDermott Three years ago, the Mira Costa High School badminton program barely had a pulse. Only 12 students, across both varsity and junior varsity, joined the team in 2021. Badminton appeared to be on the cusp of disappearing from Costa. It was a precipitous fall for a program that had produced CIF championships. The pandemic was partly to blame, but it was more than that. The sport got no respect. MCHS senior Zach Berkes said that two years ago, the badminton squad’s only home game got canceled – because the boys basketball team wanted the gym for an offseason practice. “We used to have to fight with off-season basketball to get a home match,” said Berkes, who is the badminton team captain. Things have changed. Beginning on Friday, and continuing next Monday and Wednesday, the Mira Costa badminton team will host the first three rounds of the CIF playoffs at the MCHS Pavillion. The MCHS team is quickly becoming one of the powerhouses in the state, and has a chance to capture both a team CIF championship, as well as individual and doubles titles. The team is generating a buzz on the Costa campus. Last year, 45 kids were in the badminton program, so many that the coaching…
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